Originally posted:
Previously there haven't been such Ubuntu tracking measures attempted by Canonical.

Not exactly accurate; previously ubuntu set the ubuntu NTP server as the default to automatically set the time, so Canonical could track usage...

Realistically this will use the same repositories, but with more content about the package (users can add content to the package - a la Wikipedia). When have you searched for a package but the results don't tell the entire story. As posted, with the added benefit of providing access to commercial applications that aren't available via current repositories and providing developers an avenue to publish applications direct to the end-user (publishers decide the terms). What other system has a one-stop shopping for all applications???